JOB SUMMARY:

The Illinois Restaurant Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, educating and improving the restaurant industry in Illinois. The IRA is looking for a Director of Events to join our team. This position reports to the VP of Special Events.

EVENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION:

• Manage nonprofit association events including gala, golf outing, annual meeting, and large scale outdoor festivals including Chicago Gourmet.
• Develop and manage event budgets and state grants.
• Solicit vendors for event services. Procure equipment, tools and supplies.
• Collect invoices, reconcile with budget, and ensure payments are completed.
• Oversee event administrative responsibilities including scheduling committee meetings, conference calls, developing agendas and recaps, creating run of show documents, sponsor solicitation packets, chef participant forms, outreach and thank you emails/mailings and more.
• Manage project timeline, master internal and external schedules.
• Oversee, manage and direct staff and interns to ensure responsibilities are fulfilled.
• Train and provide best practices for event staff, interns and seasonal help.
• Finalize layout of event floor plans; accommodating needs of sponsors and committee requests.
• Ensure events and ticketing webpages are kept up to date and functioning properly.
• Identify guest prospects, invite and confirm to attend each event.
• Identify event sponsor and in-kind donor prospects, solicit and confirm participation.
• Identify vendor prospects, invite and confirm participation.
• Oversee silent auction/raffle requests, solicitation, packaging, display, check-out and distribution.
• Manage signage, presentations and program book process including: design, proofing, approval, quantities, delivery and set up.
• Develop remarks for event speakers.
• Proof event marketing, promotional and public relations efforts.
• Manage all event logistics and troubleshoot issues on-site.
• Conduct post-event debriefs with internal team, committee and vendors to highlight strengths and areas for improvement in the future.
• Produce post event report/summary for each event.
• Oversee direct report responsible for procuring item and package donations for various Silent Auctions held throughout the year.

SPONSOR MANAGEMENT:

• Solicit sponsorship for Chicago Gourmet Events
• Develop prospect list and execute introductory communications
• Build and maintain strong relationships with all current and new sponsors
• Determine creative ways to procure additional sponsorship revenue
• Lead the generation of sponsor proposals and negotiations for new sponsors
• Author sponsorship agreement documents and manage legal review when applicable
• Manage Sponsor Timeline with all production and collateral deadlines
• Attend sponsor site visits and conference calls
• Liaise with partner vendors to manage activation needs, social/earned media inclusions
• Issue sponsor invoices and issue payment follow-up as needed
• Oversee of onsite execution and troubleshooting throughout festival
• Assist in post festival wrap meetings with all sponsors to solicit feedback and determine renewal status

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• 8-10 years experience in event planning
• 3 years in a supervisory role
• General knowledge of food service/hospitality industry
• Strong interpersonal and people management skills
• Strong administrative, communications, organizational and supervisory skills
• Ability to effectively manage up and down in a proactive and positive manner
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, database management and officeequipment
• Computer Operations: familiarity with HTML, Canva and/or design software preferred

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Chicago, IL 60603